I'm guessing even if Alfredsson had his Wings jersey, he wouldn't wear it to a practice skate in the Sensplex with his old teammates. That would likely be seen as rubbing everyone's nose in it.

No matter what jersey he wore, it was going to get attention.

yeah but wearing a jersey of a team you just left on somewhat bad terms is sort of bad form to me. he could've easily worn something else not related to any team. but I really don't care either way but I can see why some have gotten mad about it. he is a wing and I can't wait to see him play here.

Alright. So. Question: Is it kinda weird that Ken Holland did this? Of, if you like, ...*is responsible* for this?

Like, we all had him pinned as Mr. Nice Guy. Would never dare offer sheet an RFA, and would probably say about an Alfie situation, "You know, we just figured it wouldn't be right to stir someone else's pot like that" (or whatever).

And then he just sneaks in behind Ottawa's back, all Solid Snake-like, and he's all like, "Psst. Alfie. Over here. I have caaandyyyy." And, well, Alfie loves him some candy...

Is it wrong?
Is Ken Holland secretly a badass?
Is he following this drama that's unfolding in Ottawa with perverted glee?
When he looks at himself in the mirror, does he say, "Yeah, I'm pretty much amazing"?

He was a UFA. He was having problems getting a new deal so a call was made. Nothing sneaky about it.

The reason RFA guys don't usually get offer sheets is because the team almost always matches.

I'm guessing even if Alfredsson had his Wings jersey, he wouldn't wear it to a practice skate in the Sensplex with his old teammates. That would likely be seen as rubbing everyone's nose in it.

No matter what jersey he wore, it was going to get attention.

This.

He wanted to skate with his old pals, he played in Ottawa his whole career it's all he knows. It's not even training camp yet, let him skate around with his buddies, he was a senator for years, I have a shirt I still wear from a job I quit, people blow everything out of proportion sometimes. I guess it's bound to happen in the off season when there's nothing else to do

To me it's not too surprising to see the Sens losing money. They're a team that's never really done much, that's also sandwiched between the Leafs and the Wings geographically, AKA two of the most popular franchises.... Especially of that region

Ummm, by Detroit, do you mean Montreal? Otherwise, I think you should consult a map.

Apparently, a doofus named Don Brenner at the Ottawa Sun thinks he's being funny showing his butthurt by calling Detroit "Detoilet" and saying that Alfredsson's children are going to be mugged outside Joe Louis Arena.

Ottawa does not take being butthurt well. When Mike Fisher was traded Nashville so he could be with Carrie Underwood, stations boycotted her music.

Rumo(u)r has it "Alfie" sneezed in public, on a crowded street in Ottawa, and no one said, "(God) bless you." When asked about it, a few of the people who'd been there said, "Well, he didn't say, 'excuse me.'" For his part, Eugene Melynk defended General Manager Bryan Murray, saying, "I know Bryan. We work together. He wouldn't lie about this." Which is interesting because Murray hadn't said anything about the incident.

"If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!" - Kierkegaard

Rumo(u)r has it "Alfie" sneezed in public, on a crowded street in Ottawa, and no one said, "(God) bless you." When asked about it, a few of the people who'd been there said, "Well, he didn't say, 'excuse me.'" For his part, Eugene Melynk defended General Manager Bryan Murray, saying, "I know Bryan. We work together. He wouldn't lie about this." Which is interesting because Murray hadn't said anything about the incident.

Apparently after that he forgot to use his turn signal when switching lanes. Everyone is outraged, and Melnyk sais "it goes to show what kind of guy he really is, he has complete disregard for the human race!"

Didn't Bourque get dealt to the Avs at the trade deadline? Or am I remembering it wrong?

"If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!" - Kierkegaard

I'm sorry, but, like I said in the new enemies thread, this whole "Similar record" business smells.

The Red Wings are the Red Wings. The Senators are...the Senators. I mean, bless their hearts - but what have they ever done? "Well, this one time they almost won the Cup." OK, great, they almost won the Cup once. My point stands.

Even last year - they got torched by a Penguins team which was absolutely destroyed by a Bruins team which was beaten decisively and definitively by a Blackhawks team which we had had on the ropes, 3-1 (before we forgot how to play hockey, which, admittedly, is a problem with us).

And that was without Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart. And, for the most part, DeKeyser. We were a team "in transition" (or, "reloading"), not a team that was looking about as "stacked" as ever (see: the Sens).

Maybe the Sens finish above us this year. I highly, highly doubt it, though. And you can bet it wasn't just the money (or the Swedes) that Alfie had in mind when he signed here.

"If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!" - Kierkegaard

Boy, I don't remember Boston going this crazy for Ray Bourque wanting to win a Cup before he retired.

Not only did they not go crazy, they fully supported their captain! I remember seeing Bourque fans wearing half Boston, half Colorado jerseys in support of his quest for the Cup.

True, these are different situations, but it kind of sucks that fans are harshing on their longtime captain like they are.

I personally would have supported Stevie if this were an alternate universe where the Wings could not win a Cup (or win that much in general) and he left to spend his last season with a team that had a legitimate shot.

I personally would have supported Stevie if this were an alternate universe where the Wings could not win a Cup (or win that much in general) and he left to spend his last season with a team that had a legitimate shot.

My impression is that Sens fans feel their shot is just as legitimate as ours.

Something no one's talking about: he picked the Wings over the Bruins.

"If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility!" - Kierkegaard